Bruxism & Social Anxiety

Dentists have known for some time now that stress is a big contributing factor to tooth grinding, or bruxism. As social anxiety generally causes stress in social situations, it can naturally be concluded that people struggling with social anxiety are more prone to bruxism.

To further understand this relationship, a group at Tel Aviv University studied a group of seventy-five participants. These participants were men and women in their early thirties, forty of which experience social phobia, about half of which were on medication for their problem. These participants underwent an oral and psychiatry examination. Researchers found that there was moderate-to-severe wear on the teeth of 42.1% of the group with social phobia, and only 28.6% of the control group. Meanwhile, 32.5% of the first group exhibited jaw play, as opposed to only 12.1% of the control group. Waking bruxism was observed in 42.5% of the first group, and a mere 3% of the control group.

Indeed, it would appear that social interaction is a major trigger for bruxism in people struggling with social anxiety. To find out more about how you can protect your teeth and overcome tooth grinding, talk to Meadow Creek Dental in Issaquah.

Your Genetics and Your Oral Health

Regularly brushing and flossing your teeth is a good way to help assure that you will continue to have a strong and healthy set of teeth and gums well into old age. However, despite our best efforts, some people will always have an easier time with their oral health than others. Indeed, there are various aspects of your health that hinge largely on your genetics, including the following:

  • If you have a family history of gingivitis, it may be that you have a genetic disposition for this disease.
  • Though teeth can come in crooked due to environmental factors, many people have crooked teeth due to their genetics. If you have a family history of braces, you may need to wear braces as well.
  • Some people are born with clotting problems or other bleeding disorders. Such conditions pose a problem for your dental treatments.
  • Some people are genetically disposed to diabetes, which has unfortunate implications on your oral health.

Should you struggle with any of these genetic problems, talk to our Issaquah dentist so that we can tailor your treatments appropriately.

Bulimia vs. Your Teeth

Bulimia is a form of eating disorder, similar in many ways to anorexia. Bulimic individuals will eat normally, but will immediately purge their food to avoid allowing it to be absorbed by their bodies. It’s not hard to see why this is a highly unhealthy condition, in that the individual is depriving herself of the nutrition she needs. It also entails a number of hazards for your oral health. Indeed, while a bulimic person is trying to preserve her figure, she is seriously compromising the appearance of her teeth.

The problem comes from all of the vomiting that a bulimic person does. Every time you regurgitate, the harsh acids of your digestive system are assaulting the vulnerable tissues of your throat and mouth. When you do this after every meal, the effects can be devastating. The acids break down tooth enamel, cause gums to recede, and burn your esophagus. This accounts for why bulimics are known to lose teeth.

If you or someone you know struggles with bulimia, visit Meadow Creek Dental in Issaquah to do the right thing for your oral health.

What is Fluorosis?

If you have a child, be sure to instruct him or her on proper tooth brushing practice. Many children enjoy the minty taste of their paste too much, and are inclined to swallow it like a piece of candy. This can lead to them getting too much fluoride in their systems, which can cause fluorosis.

Roughly a quarter of Americans are affected by fluorosis . The condition generally occurs in children under the age of nine, and manifests as a discoloration of the permanent teeth as they come in. Their teeth may have stains that range in color from faint to dark brown. In the more severe cases, there may also be irregularities on the surface of the tooth, or highly noticeable pitting.

Fluorosis is largely a cosmetic condition, but can affect the self-esteem of a young child. Fortunately, there are options available to deal with affected teeth. Consult our Issaquah dentist clinic to learn more about how much fluoride is appropriate for a child, or how to deal with fluoride problems.